Positional adjusting mechanism



Dec. 13, 1966 v J. R. BAKER 3,290,333

POSITIONAL ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

D John R. Baker W BY MMVM ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1966 BAKER 3,290,833

POSITIONAL ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ()fiice 3,29@,333 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 3,290,833 PQSHTTONAL ADJUSTHNG MECHANISM John R. Baker, Cincinnati, @hio, assignor to The Cincinnati Milling Machine C0,, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Qhio Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,306 Claims. (Cl. 51-165) The present invention relates to mechanism for adjusting the position of a member, such as a workpiece, particularly suitable for adjusting the position of a roll to be ground in a grinding machine.

In the grinding of heavy rolls, each end of the roll is supported in a journal rest. The roll must be precisely aligned and positioned for grinding and, consequently, the journal rest at each end of the workpiece must be capable of moving the end of the roll which it supports both vertically and horizontally.

In the present invention, a simple, effective mechanism is provided to move a member, such as a workpiece, in two transverse directions with accuracy. In brief, the mechanism includes a base member and a support member, the support member pivotally connected to the base member by means of an eccentric pin. The support member carries the workpiece (or one end thereof), and pivotal movement of the support member provides adjusting movement of the workpiece in one direction (such as the horizontal direction). Rotation of the eccentric pin provides movement of the support member and workpiece in the other direction (such as the vertical direction).

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for positioning a member such as a workpiece in a machine tool. It is another object of the present invention to provide positioning mechanism to move a workpiece selectively in two transverse directions. Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a roll grinder incorporating the mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

There is shown in FIG. 1 a roll grinder having a bed on which a headstock 11 and footstock 12 are mounted in spaced relation. The roll 13 has a body portion Me which is to be ground, and has a neck tab at each end. The necks 14b are received, respectively, in journal rests 15 mounted on the bed between the headstock l1 and tailstock 12. The roll 13 is located longitudinally between blocks 16 received on centers l7, 18 of headstock 11 and tailstock 12, respectively. A slide 19 is mounted on the bed 10 for longitudinal movement parallel to the central axis A of the roll. A wheelhead 20, having a rotatable grinding wheel 21 therein, is mounted on the slide 19 and is movable thereon towards and away from the roll. A gauge indicated generally at 22 is also mounted on the slide 19.

Each journal rest 15 has a base member 26 which is clamped to the bed 10, during a grinding operation, by clamping blocks 27. In order to accommodate rolls of different lengths, the journal rests can be moved longitudinally along the bed lltl, when blocks 27 are loosened, by means of motors 28. Each motor 23, which is secured to base member 26, is connected to a worm 29 which drives a gear train mounted in base 26 terminating in a pinion (not shown) engaged with the rack 36 in the base It).

As shown best in FIG. 3, a crank pin, indicated generally at 311, has a central portion 32-, two end journal portions 33, and an eccentric portion 34 between the central portion 32 and each end portion 33. The central portion 32 and both end portions 33 are concentric with respect to an axis B, and the eccentric portions 34 both have a central axis C spaced horizontally from the axis B as shown best in FIG. 2. The end portions 33 are journalled in spaced upstanding ears 35 secured to base 26.

A platform 36 terminates at one end in spaced apart arms 37 which are pivotally received, respectively, on the eccentrics 34 of crank pin 31. The platform 36 extends horizontally from the eccentric portions of the crank pin, in spaced relation to the base 26, and has an upstanding outer portion on which motor 46 is mounted. The platform 36 has a bracket 38 secured thereon which carries a pair of angularly spaced apart shoes 39. The shoes 39 receive the neck 14b of the roll and each shoe is adjustable radially with respect to axis A- of rotation of the roll. For different rolls with necks of slightly different diameter the same bracket 38 can be used. and the different rolls accommodated by adjustment of the shoes 39 thereon. However, for rolls with necks of significantly different diameters, a different bracket 38 must be provided. The platform 36 and bracket 38 define a support member 40, pivotal about crankpin 31,. which carries the workpiece 13 (or, more specifically, one end thereof).

Horizontal adjustment of the roll (or, more specifically, each neck of the roll) is effected by a first actuator 41 mounted between the base 26 and the support member 40. A roller 42 is mounted on the base 26, and a shaft 43 is journalled in the support member 40. The shaft 43 rotates about a verticle axis D and has at its lower end a circular cam 44 in engagement with roller 42, as shown best in FIG. 4. The shaft 43 has at its upper end a worm wheel 45 which is rotated by motor 46 through a drive train including worm 47, worm wheel 48, and worm 4-9. Thus, the actuator 41 comprises the cam 44 and roller 42, and is driven by the motor 46.

Vertical adjustment of the roll (or, more specifically, the neck of the roll) is effected by an actuator 50 mounted in the base 26. A slide block 51 slidably mounted in the base has, on each side thereof, a vertical groove 52. A link 53 is secured by pins 54 to the central portion 32 of the crank pin. The link 53 extends downwardly and terminates in spaced arms 55 each of which rotatably carries a roller 56. The rollers 56 are received respectively in the slots 52, and, when the slide is moved in one direction or the other in the base, the crank pin 31 is rotated about axis B. This causes the center of the eccentric portions (which are on axis C and spaced horizontally from the axis B) to raise or lower depending upon the direction of movement of the slide block 51. Since the platform 36 is mounted on the eccentrics 34, the platform shifts vertically with the eccentrics. It will be noted that the bracket 38, which shifts vertically with platform 36, carries the workpiece with the central axis A thereof over the crank pin 31 so that vertical motion imparted to the platform and bracket by the rotation of the crank pin is similarly imparted to the workpiece.

The slide block 51 has a threaded opening 57 in which a screw 58, journalled in the base 26, is received. The screw has a worm wheel 59 secured thereon which is driven by a worm 60 connected to a motor 61. Thus, operation of motor 61 in one direction or the other will rotate the screw in one direction or the other, and cause the slide block 51 to shift to the right or the left as viewed in FIG. 2. This will cause rotation of the crank pin 31 by means of link 53 and thereby raise or lower the workpiece. Thus, the slide block 51 and link 53 constitute an actuator (indicated generally at 50) driven by motor 61 to adjust the workpiece 13 (or, more specifically, one end thereof) vertically.

In operation of the mechanism disclosed herein, the roll 13 (the body 14a of which is to be ground) is placed in the machine between the blocks 16 for sole support by the journal rests 15 which receive the necks 14b at each end of the roll. The slide 19 is moved longitudinally on bed 10 until the gauge 22 is at one end of the body portion 14a of the roll. The gauge has sensing means 22w on each side of the workpiece on a horizontal line H through the center of the workpiece, and sensing means 22b on a vertical line V through the center of the workpiece. Each sensing means 22a (which may, for example, be a finger biased toward the roll for sensing engagement therewith) is located on an arm 22c and operates indicating means 22d (which are pointers mounted for movement with respect to dials in response to the position assumed by the sensing finger in engagement with the roll). The sensing means 22b is similar to sensing means 22a to operate another indicating means 220..

With the gauge at one end of the body portion 14a of the roll, the operator will know, by reading the indicating pointers 22d, whether that end of the roll is positioned properly (both in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) for a grind. If adjustment is necessary the appropriate actuator is operated; actuator 41 for horizontal adjustment and actuator 50 for vertical adjustment.

After one end of the workpiece is properly adjusted for a grind, the slide 19 is moved longitudinally along the bed 10 to bring the gauge 22 to the other end of the body portion 14a of the workpiece. Again, reading the indicating pointers 22d will tell the operator what horizontal and vertical adjustment is necessary. The actuator 41 of the journal rest at this end of the workpiece is operated for horizontal adjustment of this end of the workpiece and the actuator 50 is operated for vertical adjustment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Mechanism for positional adjustment of a member comprising:

( a) a base,

(b) a crankpin journaled in the base and having an eccentric portion,

() a support for said member pivotally received on the eccentric portion of the crankpin,

(d) means to pivot said support on the eccentric portion of the crankpin for adjustment of the member in one direction,

(e) and means to rotate said crankpin in the base for adjustment of the member in another direction.

2. Machine tool mechanism for positional adjustment of a member comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a crankpin journaled in the base and having an eccentric portion,

(0) a support for said member pivotally received on the eccentric portion of the crankpin,

(d) a first actuator mounted between the base and the support operable to pivot said support on the eccentric portion of the crankpin for adjustment of the member in one direction,

(e) and a second actuator mounted in the base and connected to the crankpin for rotation thereof to adjust the member in the other direction.

3. Machine tool mechanism for positional adjustment of a workpiece comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a crankpin journaled on an axis in the base and having an eccentric extending horizontally from said axis,

(c) a support to carry said workpiece over the crankpin, said support pivotally mounted on the eccentric and having a portion extending horizontally from the eccentric in spaced relation to the base,

(d) a first actuator mounted between the base and said support portion operable to pivot said support on the eccentric for lateral adjustment of the workpiece,

(e) and a second actuator mounted in the base and connected to the crankpin for rotation thereof to effect vertical adjustment of the workpiece.

4. Machine tool mechanism for positional adjustment of a workpiece comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a crankpin journaled on an axis in the base and having an eccentric extending horizontally from said axis,

(c) a support to carry said workpiece over the crankpin, said support pivotally mounted on the eccentric and having a portion extending horizontally from the eccentric in spaced relation to the base,

(d) a first actuator having a cam mounted between the base and said support portion operable when actuated to pivot said support on the eccentric for lateral adjustment of the workpiece,

(e) a second actuator having a slide mounted in the base connected to the crankpin operable when actuated to rotate the crankpin and effect vertical adjustment of the workpiece,

(f) and a first motor to actuate said first actuator and a second motor to actuate said second actuator.

5. Machine tool mechanism for positional adjustment of one end of a roll in a roll grinder comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a crankpin journaled on a first axis in the base and having an eccentric on a second axis horizontally spaced from said first axis,

(c) a support to carry said workpiece over the crankpin, said support pivotally mounted on the eccentric and having a portion extending horizontally from the eccentric in spaced relation to the base,

(d) a first actuator comprising a roller mounted on the base and a cam mounted in the support for engagement with the roller, said first actuator operable when actuated to pivot said support on the eccentric to swing the support about said second axis and effect lateral adjustment of said end of the roll,

(e) a second actuator comprising a slide mounted in the base and a link connecting the slide to the crankpin for rotation of the crankpin about said first axis and vertical adjustment of said one end of the roll when the second actuator is actuated,

(f) and a first motor to actuate said first actuator and a second motor to actuate said second actuator.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 415,642 8/1934 Great Britain.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner. 

2. MACHINE TOOL MECHANISM FOR POSITIONAL ADJUSTMENT OF A MEMBER COMPRISING: (A) A BASE, (B) A CRANKPIN JOURNALED IN THE BASE AND HAVING AN ECCENTRC PORTION, (C) A SUPPORT FOR SAID MEMBER PIVOTALLY RECEIVED ON THE ECCENTRIC PORTION OF THE CRANKPIN, (D) A FIRST ACTUATOR MOUNTED BETWEEN THE BASE AND THE SUPPORT OPERABLE TO PIVOT SAID SUPPORT ON THE ECCENTRIC PORTION OF THE CRANKPIN FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION, (E) AND A SECOND ACTUATOR MOUNTED IN THE BASE AND CONNECTED TO THE CRANKPIN FOR ROTATION THEREOF TO ADJUST THE MEMBER IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. 